Born in the East End of London, Virtuoso vocalist, Actor and composer Cleveland Watkiss

Born in the East End of London, Virtuoso vocalist, Actor and composer Cleveland Watkiss Studied the voice at ‘London school of singing’ With Opera Coach ‘Arnold Rose’ and at the Guildhall School Of Music And Drama. Cleveland was also one of the co-founders of the vastly influential Jazz Warriors big band. His vocals can be heard on there debut album, Out of Many People which won a video award in Japan.
Cleveland was then entered for the Wire/Guardian Jazz Awards and was voted best vocalist for three consecutive years, and was the opening act of choice for two of the worlds greatest femail jazz vocalists 'Cassandra Wilson' And 'Abbey Lincoln'.... John Fordham, the Guardian music journalist accurately describes Cleveland as ‘arriving on the scene with a bang”.

He’s amazing vocal experiences has seen him perform with many diverse artists from around the world like: 'The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra',‘Dusseldolf Symphonic Orchestra‘,'Bob Dylan',Jackie Mittoo,'Keith Richards','James Taylor Quartet',Art Blakey, Sly & Robbie, Abdullah Ibrahim, 'Stevie Wonder', 'Patife',‘Lepaja Symphonic Orchestra‘, 'Carlinhos Brown', 'Robbie Williams','Joe Cocker','Bobby McFerrin', ‘The Who’'Branford Marsalis', 'George Martin',Art Blakey', ‘Julian Joseph‘,'Bocato Big Band','Lisa Stansfield', ‘Courtney Pine’, 'Janet Kay','Maxi Priest','Soul ii Soul', 'London chamber orchestra', 'Kassa Mady', 'Goldie','Cassandra Wilson', 'Kenny Wheeler big band', 'Sugar Minot','Talvin Singh', 'Bjork','Pete Townshend', 'London Community Gospel Choir' (LCGC), And many many More.....

Cleveland watkiss is also a very keen Music Educator, Working as a voice instructor for Singup, with workshops in Venues/Schools, colleges and Universities around the UK. He also designed the vocal curriculum for BA Students at The ‘Weekend Arts college’ (WAC) in north london. And is a regularly facilitator and voice coach for the ‘Artist Development Programme’ (ADP) at the Hackney Empire Theatre in east London.

'CLEVELAND WATKISS' PRESS QUOTES….
"Was'nt he awesome? what it takes us 6 to do he does it all by himself"... Take 6

"Cleveland Watkiss was voted best vocalist in the wire/guardian awards three years running and there is no doubt he arrived on the scene with a bang”…Hackney Gazette

“Best male jazz singer in Britain”…Evening Standard

“A possibly unique unit of voice,bass,and drums,the group nevertheless manages to convey the entire jazz aesthetic by musical implication, while at the same time having all the internal spaciousness you’d expect”. JazzUK

Influences:
Duke Ellington,Louis Armsrong,Ella Fitzgerald,Mozart,Billie Holiday,Wayne Shorter,Herbie hancock,Bach,Betty Carter,Thelonius Monk,Beethoven,Sibelius,Jon Hendricks,Leon Thomas,Miles Davis,Abdullah Ibrahiem,stravinsky,John Lee Hooker,Robert Johnson,Nina Simone,Bela Bartok,Wynton & Branford Marsalis,Joe Lovano, Anouar Brahem,Sheila Chandra,Bob Marley,Peter Tosh,Bunny wailer,Harry Connick Jr,Jacob Miller,Dennis,Dhafer Youssef,Dennis Brown,Julian Joseph,Steve Williamson,Trevor Watkis,Clifford Brown,Mozart,Pete Townshend,Debussy,Bob Marley,Burning Spear,Charlie Parker,Keith Jarrett,Nat King Cole,Art Tatum,Frank Sinatra,The Master Musicians of Jajouka,Robert Fripp,The Who,George Polgreen Bridgetower,Joni Mitchell,Keith Jarrett,John Coltrane,Stevie Wonder,Talking Heads,Bjork,Antonio Forcione,John Scofield,Jan Gabarek,Green Day,John Coltrane,Aston & Carlton Barratt,Muse,Aqua lung,Jaco Pastorius,....

Program:
16 fev 2010 20:00
CWTrio @ Ronnie Scotts London, London and South East
22 fev 2010 9:00
22-26th feb-Singup Voice workshop-Cornwall Cornwall, London and South East
1 mar 2010 2:00
Solo Voice Performance & Workshop @ BRITISH ACADEMY OF NEW MUSIC London, London and South East
10 mar 2010 10:00
Vocal Workshops-Surrey-tbc Surrey, Southwest
17 mar 2010 20:00
Milano Le Scimmie-With Johnathan Gee & Enzo Zirilli Milano Le Scimmie, Milano
18 mar 2010 20:00
Rome- with Antonio Figura & Shaney Forbes (tbc) Rome, Roma
19 mar 2010 20:00
With Johnathan Gee & Enzo Zirilli Torino, Torino
20 mar 2010 10:00
Torino- Vocal Master classes at Folk Club Torino Torino, Torino